Steamboat construction



1 1622994 MSI'Ch 29, H. CUE-P Y J.

STEAMBOATY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 12, 1926 2 Sheots-Sbet 1 gwuehtom HERBERT CuLP,

March 29. .1927.

H. CU LP STEAMBOAT CONSTRUGTI QN Filed (m. 12, 19%

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES HERBERT GULF/OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

sTEAMBoAT cons'rnncrron.

Application filed October 12, 1926. Serial No. 141,199.

This invention relates to boats and'more particularly to the construction of the deck which construction will permit the convenient loading of the boats in a quick and safe manner.

The object of the invention is to construct a deck of a boatin such a manner that the loading of the boat can be accomplished in a quick and easy manner and at the same time enable such construction to be sea worthy and capable of passing the GOVBTII ment inspection.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the deck of the boat that the cars may berun across the deck, the cars unloaded, the material carried by said cars dropped into thehold of the boat and the hatch covers closed after the boat is loaded. A further object of the invention is to so construct the deck that all obstruction over the hatches is removed, thereby permitting the securing of the hatch covers.

A still further object of the invention is to so construct the deck that the coaming of the hatches will not be battered or slmashecl by the running of the cars upon the c eck.

With the above objects in view my invention consists in providing the deck of a boat with standard gauge tracks and so locating said tracks that they will register with tracks on a dock and at the same time will pass over the hatch or hatches of the boat.

The invention further consists in so locating and mounting said tracks on the deck of a boat that they may be removed from over the hatch or hatches when the boat is under way and when it is desired to cover said hatch or hatches.

The invention still further consists in so mounting the tracks on the deck of a boat that when the cars are run thereon the coamings of the hatch or hatches will not become battered or smashed.

The invention still further consists in parts and combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter made apparent.

In the drawings, Fig. I, is a top plan view of my invention as applied to a boat com-- monly known as a freighter wherein anumber of hatches are employed.

Fig. II, is a sectional view of a portion of the upper part of a boat showing the tracks, their mountings, the hatch eoaming and the deck.

Fig. III, is an enlarged view of a portion are represented as at 16, 16.

of a deck similar to the view in Fig. II, and

Fig. IV, is a side view of a portion of a deck, hatch, track and mounting.

1 represents the hold of a boat whichis provided with the usual deck 2 wherein are one or more hatches 3, 3, 3, upon which are the'covers 4, 4,, 4, as will be found in any of the ordinary freighters. The coamings Between the hatches 3, 3, 3, I have provided large I tracks 5, 5,5, provided with the ordinary traction heads 6, 6, 6, these tracks preferably running from one side of the boat to the other. Upon the traction heads 6,6, 6, I have mounted the carriers 7, 7, 7, provided with wheels 8, 8, and over which I have mounted the tracks 910 and 1112. This construction allows the tracks 910 and 1112 to be carried from the side or" thedeck to a position directly over the hatches 3, 3, 3,in order to accommodate the construction shown in Fig. I, which construction is at the present time deemed preferable. I have provided a series of stationary rails 13, 13, 13, 13, which register with the tracks 910 and 1112 when the same are placed over the hatches.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a series of hooks 14:, 14, for holding the tracks in 35 position over the hatches and hooks 15, 15, for holding thetracks at the side of the boat when the boat is under way but these hooks are only shown as one of many methods which may be employed for hold ing the tracks in the desired position.

I am aware that heretofore and before my invention there have been tracks employed on the decks of vessels where it is intended that such vessel should transport the cars in a loaded condition, such vessels being commonly known as car-ferries but this invention is not designed for the purpose of transporting the cars; its .sole object being the unloading of the cars while the vessel is tied to the dock.

Presuming the vessel to be under way and nearing a port from which it is to be loaded; the first thing to be done would be the uncovering of the hatches. After the hatches are uncovered the tracks, having previously and while the boat was under way been fastened to the sides as shown on the left of Fig. I, are moved toward the center of the boat as shown to the right of Fig. I, and 119 hooked in place or fastened in' any other desirable manner. The/boat having landed and the tracks 13, 13, 13, 13, registered with the similar tracks on the deck, the cars are run onto the tracks 9-1O and 1112 and unloaded through the hopperon the underside of said cars and the contents of such cars fall through the hatches 3, 3, 3, filling the hold of the boat.

After the boat has received a sutlicient amount of cargo the tracks 91O and 11-12 are again returned to the sides of the boat and the hatches are again covered thus preventing the water in rough weather, from entering through the hatches.

lVhile I have shown and described certain details of construction in connection with this invention I do not wish to be limited to these details except in so far as the anne *ed claims shall limit me.

Having thus described my invention, what I wish to claim is:

1. A. boat provided with a deck, hatches in said deck, coamings and covers on said hatches, tracks located over said hatches whereby cars may be run over said hatches and the contents thereof unloaded into said boat, tracks located between said hatches,

said first mentioned tracks being movably mounted on said latter tracks for the purpose set forth.

2. A boat provided with a deck, hatches located on said deck, said hatches provided with coamings and covers, structures located between said hatches, wheeled carriers mounted 011 said structures and tracks carried by said wheeled carriers, said tracks i adapted to be carried from a position away from said hatches and means for holding said tracks in a position desired.

A boat provided with a deck, hatches located in said deck, said hatches provided with coamings and covers, structures locat ed between said hatches, wheeled carriers mounted on said structures and tracks carried by said wheeled carriers, said tracks adapted to be carried from a position away from said hatches to a position over said hatches, said tracks being high enough to clear the uppermost portion of said eoamings and covers, and means for holding said tracks in the position desired.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT CULP. 

